Jamestown  (CSi)  Monday evening’s severe thunderstorms caused trees to be uprooted, downing limbs, highway vehicle tip-overs, knocked down a block wall under construction, and numerous power outages throughout the city and rural area.

Otter Tail Power customers lost power to most of Jamestown, due to trees damaging power poles and lines, in addition to problems outside of the City.   7700 Jamestown Otter Tail customers were without power.  Large trees were uprooted at the University of Jamestown campus where a trailer was tipped over.

A block wall under construction at St.John’s Academy fell during the wind.   See pictures below.

  • Large Tree takes out 2 more CSiphoto Large Tree takes out 2 more CSiphoto
  • Large Tree takes out 2 more CSiphoto Large Tree takes out 2 more CSiphoto
  • New block wall at Academy fell during wind New block wall at Academy fell during wind
  • New block wall at Academy fell during wind New block wall at Academy fell during wind
  • Academy addition blocks fell into street - CSi Photos Academy addition blocks fell into street - CSi Photos
  • At St John's Academy - CSi Photos At St John's Academy - CSi Photos
  • Tree along 2nd St SW fell across the street Tree along 2nd St SW fell across the street
  • Stump of tree that broke off Stump of tree that broke off
  • Street flooding Photo: R. Kracht Street flooding Photo: R. Kracht
  • Fallen Tree Photo: B Roemmich Fallen Tree Photo: B Roemmich
  • Tree Damage Photo: David Bratton Tree Damage Photo: David Bratton
  • Tree Damage at CSi CSiphoto Tree Damage at CSi CSiphoto
  • Tree Damage at Franklin CSiphoto Tree Damage at Franklin CSiphoto
  • Tree Damage at Franklin CSiphoto Tree Damage at Franklin CSiphoto
  • Tree Damage at Franklin CSiphoto Tree Damage at Franklin CSiphoto
  • Tree Damage at Franklin CSiphoto Tree Damage at Franklin CSiphoto
  • Tree Damage at Franklin CSiphoto Tree Damage at Franklin CSiphoto
     

Ottertail Power crews were immediately dispatched to restore electricity in the City.   One report said the electricity in Southeast Jamestown was off between 4:49-p.m., and 7:06 p.m.    CSi ran on generator at Historic Franklin for 2 1/2 hours.

CSi Internet & TV customers are asked to report any downed lines or service issues Tuesday after 8am.   We need to give Ottertail a chance to restore power to homes and businesses,  and to take care of any live downed wires before we can safely work in alleys.

Residents are advised to NOT touch any downed wires, and to use extreme caution in alleys after dark, as downed wires are very difficult to see.

The Fire Dept Monday evening  was  busy tending numerous reports of tree branches on fire.

One person said,  her vehicle’s windshield was shattered by a large tree branch.

A resident reported that parts of Northeast Jamestown had power restored about 7:30-p.m.   Parts of the NW still are without power as of 9pm.   Homes north of Jamestown were still without power later Monday evening.

Other outages for varying lengths of time were reported in Southwest Jamestown.

Areas of town had tree damages and downed trees with the Jamestown Weather Station reporting a peak wind gust of 85 MPH.  Heavy rain also caused police to close the viaduct underpass  until the storm water drained.  Outdoor lawn furniture, and refuse bins were tipped over and blown for a distance.

Hail stones of varying sizes were reported in Stutsman County.

Authorities said the high wind caused traffic crashes Monday evening along I-94 in the Jamestown area, overturning a two campers and semi.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol and Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office responded to the interstate seven miles west of Jamestown.

One of the campers  pulled off the highway onto Exit 248 to waiting for the storm to let up when the wind blew it onto its side..

Another camper waiting for the storm to move on, tipped on to its side from the high wind.

No serious injuries were reported.

A witness said a semi had overturned eastbound on I-94 near Jamestown, about 5:10-pm.

The semi blocked the passing, lane while one of the tipped over campers blocked the driving lane, causing traffic backups until the vehicles could be removed.

Update… Highway Patrol report…

On September 2nd, 2019, a severe thunderstorm passed through the Stutsman County area along I-94.  Between 4:40 pm and 5:00 pm, NDHP and Stutsman County SO units responded to three separate high profile vehicles that blew over in the storm.  The three vehicles that blew over were on I-94 between MM 248 and 250, about 8 miles west of Jamestown.  There were no injuries in any of the crashes.

One incident involved a CMV towing a van trailer, the other two involved camper trailers being towed by pickup trucks.

 

The Highway Patrol also reported during the Heavy Rain and strong winds an empty semi  was blown over by strong winds on I-94 near Buffalo, ND resulting in minor injuries to the driver, 22 year old Inder Singh of New York, NY, who was transported to Essentia Hospital, in Fargo,  for non-life threatening injuries. Interstate 94 westbound lane was closed for about 30 minutes to recover the vehicle.

Assisting the Highway Patrol were the Cass County SO, Casselton Ambulance, Buffalo Fire Department, Buffalo Ambulance.

The Fargo-Moorhead area also received extensive wind damage including roof ripped from buildings and a large power outage.  Power crews were being sent from Sioux Falls, south Dakota to assist local crews in making repairs.